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I'd prefer Mack the Knife, but we're talking baseball, not music.  Pete Mackanin has ignited the Reds since taking over on an interim basis for the fired Jerry Narron on July 3.   When he took over, the Reds were 31-51 and 17 games back in the NL Central and two games in the NL cellar.  Since then, the team has gone 27-19 and is now 8.5 back in the central.

It is just 46 games, but you can begin to make a case that he deserves the job on a full-time basis.  Since he took over, the Reds have the best record in the division by two games over the Cubs.

There are a few things going against him no matter what he does, short of winning the World Series.  The biggest is the last two managers (Dave Miley, Jerry Narron) the Reds hired were interims the season before.  The difference in this situation is the GM inherited both as Miley was forced upon Dan O'Brien and Narron was entrenched for Krivsky.

The Reds fan base is screaming for a name manager.  The likes of Joe Girardi, Bob Brenly, Davey Johnson and yes, even Joe Torre will be bandied about.  It is said that Bob Castellini will want to make a splash with his next hire and prove the Reds are willing to do what it takes to compete and not worry about salary.  Salary has been a major determining factor in who leads the Reds since Jack McKeon left in 2000.

Joe Girardi proved he could handle the bench during his season in Florida, but he does not work and play well with others, including his owner.  Brenly took over a strong Arizona club, won a World Series and promptly lost his job.  His coaching experieince is limited as he was an analyst for Fox when he was hired in Arizona and has gone back into broadcasting rather than honing his art.

Davey Johnson has had a splendid career with the Mets, Reds and Orioles.  If the Reds are going to turn away from Mack, I'd like to see someone like Johnson.  Others of that ilk include Torre and Tom Kelly.  Oooooo, a good conspiracy theory with Krivsky's Twins ties. 

I'd take Kelly out of the equation though because he seems happily retired.  Plus, I think if the Reds were going down that road, I'd rather to have seen Kelly hired in July so he could get a jumpstart on 2008 and know what he has and needs.

That brings us to Torre.  His run in NY appears to be coming to a close, but is he ready to hang it up?  His best years in the Bronx were with baseball players, not primadonnas.  Instead of trying to put together a lineup of eight all-stars and five Cy Young winners, he had baseball players and emerging stars like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Bernie Williams.  Those Yankee teams played with a 3B (Scott Brocious) who hit ninthh and a platoon in LF. 

The Reds are certainly not the Yankees of the late '90s, but the cupboard is not bare and there is talent coming through the system both on the mound (Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto, Matt Maloney) and in the field (Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Chris Valaika).

Is Mack the man?  Only time will tell, but I'd like to see him get the opportunity. If not Mack, then Johnson and Torre generate the most interest in my mind.  Too many questions still with Girardi in my mind and Brenly is not working on managing the game, he is only talking about it on television.